Very few really know which drugs are best for lowering blood pressure without side effects

There are many Italians who take drugs against hypertension but very few really know which are the best drugs to lower blood pressure without annoying side effects. A recent study reveals which medicines these are.

The most popular treatments for hypertension

When you first go to your doctor to fight hypertension, you have a number of options. Surely the doctor will recommend more physical activity and a healthier diet. But it is also possible that he prescribes drugs that lower blood pressure.

However, there are many medicines that the doctor can choose from. Precisely for this reason, a team of scientists has decided to clarify the effectiveness and side effects of the most popular drugs.

Specifically, the researchers focused on two categories of antihypertensives:

• gli ACE inibitori (fra cui captopril, lisinopril, enalapril, fosinopril, ramipril, perindopril, benazepril e quinapril);
• angiotensin receptor antagonists or ARBs (including losartan, valsartan, candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan and telmisartan).

Scientists have wondered not only which drugs are more effective, but also which ones have fewer side effects. Here’s what they found out.

Very few really know which drugs are best for lowering blood pressure without side effects

The recent study on high blood pressure drugs is very extensive. In fact, it involved over three million patients in the United States, South Korea and Germany.

Thanks to this research, the scientists were able to state that there is no difference between ACE inhibitors and ARBs in terms of efficacy. In fact, both categories of drugs protect equally against heart disease.

However, there are significant differences in the side effects. From this point of view, the best drugs are ARBs.

In fact, those who take ACE inhibitors instead of ARBs are more likely to suffer from:

• angioedema (swelling under the skin);
• persistent dry cough;
• pancreatitis;
• gastrointestinal bleeding.

These are certainly annoying or dangerous side effects. For those who suffer from it, therefore, it may be worth talking to the doctor to evaluate a change of drugs.

Furthermore, we must not forget that there are natural substances that can fight hypertension (for example a drink that no one ever buys). These are not a substitute for medicines, but they can offer valuable help.